1544 <R» RURAL NEW-YORKER 
General Farm Topics 
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Repairing Old Tree 
1 wish to know how to preserve a pear 
tivc. badly damaged at the trunk, opened 
up and decaying on one side. The tree is 
an old one. hut still growing vigorously 
and bearing fruit. What material has 
been found safe and successful in prevent¬ 
ing further decay and keeping out water? 
Are asphalt or coal-tar preparations good 
or harmful? And the best paint to use 
after filling the large cavity? I think it 
would take fully a peck and probably 
more to fill in this tree after getting out 
the decayed portion o. n. v. 
Massachusetts. 
Cut out and remove all dead and de¬ 
cayed wood, back to sound, living wood. 
Use the tools best adapted for the pur¬ 
pose. Probably these will include the 
chisel and mallet. Cut up under on the 
upj>er side so that the wood will overlap 
the cement sufficiently to shed water. 
Wash the interior of the cavity thorough¬ 
ly with a solution of corrosive sublimate. 
It is claimed that if one tablet is dis¬ 
solved in a pint of water the solution will 
he of ample strength, but I prefer to use 
three or four. This is a deadly poison, 
and one for which there seems to be no 
remedy, so handle it with caution. Let 
dry and wash again to make certain that 
the application is thorough. I usually 
apply this liquid with a paint brush. 
When the second application is dry, paint 
well with coal tar. Have this just warm 
enough to spread well and cover every 
spot. Stud the interior with nails, to act 
as lathing and hold the cement firmly to 
the wood. Those used in laying slate 
rooiing are best, since they have larger 
heads. Spread a ribbon of slater’s or 
plumber’s waterproof cement along the 
edge of the opening, next the cambium. 
This will insure against water finding its , 
way between the cement and the wood. 
Mix one part of Portland cement with 
three of clean, sharp sand, if it can be 
had, but use the cement clear rather 
than to mix it with an inferior quality of 
sand. Add just sufficient water to bring 
it to such a consistency, that it can be 
worked well and will adhere well to the 
wood. The amount will vary greatly in 
different, cases, and can only be ascer¬ 
tained by experiment. Pack this so 
closely against the wood as not to leave 
any air spaces. Use extra caution in do¬ 
ing this. Fill the cavity completely full 
of the cement, and round it out to con¬ 
form to the shape of the tree. Ilang a 
wet blanket over the cement to prevent 
too rapid hardening and consequent crack- 
in. When thoroughly dry and hard, paint 
the cement to conform as nearly as pos¬ 
sible to the color of the trunk. A good 
oil paint is best on account of its greater 
lasting qualities. Otherwise, paint of any 
kind will answer just as well. 
If all these directions are carried out a 
perfect job will result; but, in many in¬ 
stances, it will be impracticable to re¬ 
move all of the diseased wood. And, in 
many other instances the nature of the 
fungus which caused the disease will 
make a complete removal impossible. In 
such cases, remove as much of the di- 
eased wood as is practicable, or is con¬ 
sistent with the safety of .the tree, and let 
it go ar that. The .tree will be benefited 
just in proportion to the amount of dis¬ 
eased wood that is removed. c. o. o. 
Getting Rid of Quack Grass 
At Michigan Agricultural College, while 
Professor of Horticulture for 11 years, 
managing a botanic garden for 33 years 
and teaching botany for 40 years, I made 
many observations and experiments on 
weeds, including that arch fiend of them 
all, quack grass or quick grass. Nearly 
every device that I ever heard of was 
given a trial to get rid of patches or 
small areas of quack grass. I would not 
think of enumerating them all, but will 
content myself with brief descriptions of 
the best methods employed. I am certain 
that 1 have killed one hundred or more 
patches, and can speak from practical 
results and success. 
Those ^interested will not fail to notice 
what is said concerning the way this 
grass makes a success in life. While 
green leaves remain tin; plant, through 
the aid of light, heat, air and moisture is 
able to manufacture and store nourish¬ 
ment in its slender white underground 
stems, What happens if these leaves are 
all cut off? The plant at once draws on 
the nourishment stored in the stems un¬ 
derground to aid in starting more leaves, 
and as soon as any of these appear begins 
to recruit. At such times the farmer, if 
he is a wise general, will not wait a day 
or two. or a week, for the enemy to re¬ 
gain strength, but will follow up with 
battles in quick succession, until the bank 
deposit below ground is finally exhausted, 
when the stems wither and perish beyond 
hope of resurrection—they go into bank¬ 
ruptcy. 
Plow shallow late in Fall or very early 
in Spring, rain or shine, and cultivate 
every three days with a sharp-edged 
shovel-cultivator that, puts off all the 
leaves, not a harrow which will cover 
many leaves. Continue without interrup¬ 
tion for about 25 times, keeping all green 
leaves from showing themselves. Tf thor¬ 
ough this process may be somewhat short¬ 
ened if the weather keeps wet. In <*use 
the plants are few and scattered a dung 
fork may be used to pick out all the 
stems; by the use of a spade some of the 
stems are liable to be cut off and frag¬ 
ments left in the ground. Instead of 
a dung fork it may be preferable to cut 
every three days with a sharp hoe. making 
no attempt to dig the stems out. Areas 
of a square rod or less in extent may 
be killed by covering perhaps for two 
months with tarred paper, throwing soil 
over the over-lapping edge of the paper 
to keep out every ray of light. Dry 
weather interferes with the growth. 
At East Lansing, a professor, not know¬ 
ing quack in his calf pasture, permitted 
it to run under the fence into his manure 
Firestone is giving so much more 
per dollar this year than the or- 
dinary that our 42,000 dealers 
want us to tell the public why. 
How can Firestone sell the new 
Standard Oversize Firestone 
Cord at a normal price? 
How can Firestone give the most 
highly perfected, special molded 
3y2-incli tire at a price that 
dealers usually ask for “off 
brand” kinds? 
How can Firestone tubes be 
sold for less than others of any 
reputation at all when their very 
looks and “body” and feel in¬ 
dicate their finer quality and 
longer mileage? 
The answer to all this is Firestone 
generalship of man power — 
Firestone organization of brains 
and capital. 
Firestone has built tires since 
the beginning of motorcars and 
trucks. Firestone built the first 
truck tire, and practically all the 
“firsts” among tire and rim im¬ 
provements belong to Firestone. 
Most Miles 
per Dollar 
pile which was drawn into a field, with 
the usual results. Another tried a new 
grass imported from France, with which 
came a lot of new weeds also, quack 
among them. When plowed and har¬ 
rowed, the stems were strung for long 
distances by the teeth of the harrow. An¬ 
other succeeded unintentionally by de¬ 
grees in seeding all the fields of his farm, 
where the grass is still abundant on every 
town lot of the village. Two acres well 
drained were used for school gardens; 
this grass is spreading rapidly, till to¬ 
day most of the garden is infested. An¬ 
other had a way of starting numerous 
rubbish piles, and in each always ran in 
a little quack grass, which soon made 
trouble as soon as cultivation began. It 
is very important that one who is to 
cultivate a garden or field should learn 
to know quack grass before it gets much 
the start of him. This shows the great 
chance every teacher of agronomy has to 
instruct his students in killing quack, and 
especially applies with equal force to 
every county agricultural agent in every 
State. In every case keep a watchful 
eye for any failure in the process for ex¬ 
termination. w. J. HEAL. 
Amherst, Mass. 
One-pipe Furnace 
I would like to know something about 
the one-pipe furnace. We have a six- 
room cottage, three rooms up 'and three 
down stairs. Will it heat the upper floor 
as well as the lower? l. w. 
Connecticut. 
The upper floor of my own house, being 
used for sleeping purposes only, is kept 
sufficiently warm by the natural escape 
of warm air from the heated rooms be¬ 
low, and that without even the use of 
registers in the floors of the upper rooms. 
Plant No. 1. Capacity 20,000 Tire* Daily 
Thi* va»t plant is now concentrated on Cord 
Tires and Truck Tires. Its efficiency and 
capacity hare been greatly increased by 
Plant No. 2. 
That’s because Firestone has 
thought farther ahead. 
So today, Firestone is farther 
ahead than ever. Year by year 
Firestone has been laying those 
foundations of man power and 
resources which are bearing 
their biggest fruit in low cost 
mileage today. 
It took Firestone man power to 
create the factories shown here. 
It took Firestone man power to 
foresee the value of a Firestone 
organization in Singapore, the 
source of rubber supply, there¬ 
by saving you 3 cents a pound 
on rubber. 
Plant No. 2. Capacity 16,000 Tire* Daily 
Devoted exclusively to 3V£-inch Tires. 
Firestone is first with a huge separate fac¬ 
tory and organization specializing entirely 
on this tire in greatest demand. 
October IS, 191!) 
Occasionally, when it has been desirable 
to have one or more of the upper rooms 
really warmed, the stairway door below 
has been open and the heat allowed to 
take its natural course upward. On such 
occasions the upper rooms were quickly 
warmed and without interfering with 
needed heat below. From this limited 
experience I judge that there would be 
no trouble in heating living rooms on the 
second floor. Rather, I should expect to 
find them more easily heated than the 
lower rooms, if all opened together. I 
do not personally know of any houses 
constantly heated above and below by 
one-pipe furnaces, though a considerable 
number of these furnaces are in use in 
my vicinity. Undoubtedly there are some 
among our readers who are using this 
style of heater for keeping living rooms 
upon the second floor warmed and who 
will he willing to give their experience. 
M. H. P. 
The Southern Beach Pony 
(Continued from page 1540) 
own it. That was in the days when 
they were of little value. The ponies 
sell today anywhere from $50 to $150. 
according to their size, shape, color and 
disposition. A striking instance is shown 
in one of the cases of cross-breeding 
with blooded stock. The sire of this 
mare was a handsome, sturdy beach pony, 
and the mother of purebred stock. The 
animal, when about three years old, 
nearly was full grown, perfectly formed, 
sound, kind and gentle, without a blem¬ 
ish, and quite fast. First picture, page 
1540. shows a group of brood mares 
especially selected from a herd of ponies 
on aeoount of size and gentle disposition; 
they are allowed to graze in better pas¬ 
tures than the beach affords. A. d. part. 
North Carolina. 
It took Firestone man power to 
control the fabric from cotton 
field through the mill, and to 
design looms for special widths 
of fabric, thus reducing waste 
and lowering the cost. 
And why is this Firestone or¬ 
ganization the most effective in 
the business? 
Because Firestone attracts and 
holds the men who do things. 
90of Firestone workers own 
stock in the company. Firestone 
Park is a unique and attractive 
home community; the clubhouse 
plays a real part in the daily life 
of these workers. The Firestone 
bank has thousands of deposi¬ 
tors. The Firestone insurance 
fund protects every worker in 
the organization. 
All of these are reasons why 
Firestone can give more'in the 
Cord Tires, or Fabric Tires, or 
Truck Tires, or Tubes. 
Their personal financial interest 
in you as a customer makes 
Firestone men save at every 
turn, to hold you by giving mile¬ 
age at lowest cost. 
Ask your dealer {or a Firestone in 
your size and type. 
Why Rrestone is Giving 
Extra Value in Tires 
